Pulmonary Anthrax

Pulmonary anthrax is an acute infectious disease caused by B. anthracis, primarily a herbivore zoonosis; humans are infected by contact with sick animals/products or eating their meat. Cutaneous anthrax is most common (skin necrosis, black eschar); inhalation causes pulmonary anthrax; ingestion causes intestinal anthrax, which may be complicated by anthrax septicemia.

Common Symptoms

Septicemia; convulsions; low fever; cyanosis; toxemia

Causes and Pathogenesis

When resistance declines, bacilli spread lymphohematogenously causing septicemia and secondary anthrax. Anthrax toxin damages microvascular endothelium causing diffuse bleeding, DIC, and septic shock; lack of immune response allows rapid fatal progression. Pulmonary anthrax is hemorrhagic lobular pneumonia with bronchomediastinal lymphadenopathy, hemorrhagic infiltration, pleural/pericardial involvement, and necrotic hemorrhagic mediastinitis. B. anthracis is an aerobic spore-forming Gram-positive encapsulated bacillus with strong pathogenicity; it is killed by common disinfectants and 75°C heat for minutes, but spores are highly resistant, surviving long in soil and requiring boiling 30-50 min or strong oxidants (bleach, permanganate) for 24 h; it is sensitive to iodine. Four antigens: capsule (antiphagocytic, virulence), somatic (species-specific, heat-stable), protective protein (immunogenic), and spore antigen. Anthrax toxin has edema factor, lethal factor, and protective antigen, non-toxic alone but lethal in combination. After entry, the capsule allows local proliferation and toxin production causing edema, necrosis, and hemorrhagic infiltration, forming primary cutaneous or pulmonary anthrax.

Treatment

Drug therapy, supportive therapy

Preventive Measures

1. Report suspected cases immediately to local health authorities; pulmonary anthrax is a Class B disease managed as Class A. 2. Isolate and treat patients and sick animals; disinfect secretions/excreta; protect water/food supplies. 3. Wear protective clothing and 16-layer gauze masks when examining suspected cases; give patients masks; medically observe contacts for 12 days with twice-daily temperature checks. 4. Labor protection: avirulent live vaccine annually for workers in animal husbandry/processing, veterinarians, and endemic populations; scarification with 0.1 ml on the upper arm. Inspect and disinfect contaminated hides. 5. Cremate human and animal corpses; disinfect contaminated sites; factories should be downwind, away from water sources and human/animal concentrations; slaughterhouses need veterinary supervision.

Department to Visit

It is recommended to visit the Infectious Diseases department; an appointment can be booked on this platform before the visit.

Warm reminder: The above information is for health science reference only and cannot replace professional medical diagnosis. If you have related symptoms, please seek medical attention at a regular hospital promptly.